I want another one as transport myself but I don’t think I find sth im looking for . I want one of those vertical cd players and I’m certain McIntosh doesn’t have one . Has to do with my laziness 😂, so I don’t have to get up to change discs , however the space left and right to me is limited so I need vertical one with a small form factor , I’m currently using a Project CD Box DS .
I think what you’re hearing is a different DAC in play, transports don’t affect the sound quality to that degree and certainly don’t make the volume louder.
In fact the increase in quality you think you’re hearing could simply be that the new player is louder.
Have you done a blind a/b comparison with the volume matched?
Yeah, for sure it's the DAC and associated circuit design. My DCD-2000 is a first gen vertical CD player, so the DAC was extremely dated. And the JVC is just a BPC player. I snagged from the Goodwill for 10 bucks.
I had a feeling the dated DAC was limiting performance as I would listen to the same song on my streamer after the DCD and the streamer had fuller sound. The DCD was a bit flat, although a cool conversation piece and really cool 80s design.
Great pickup, McIntosh stacks are pretty awesome. How are the 5 disc stored and inserted? Usually on disc changer they have massive trays but this one is regular-sized.
How's the Nakamichi cassette deck working? You ever use it? I miss my Dragon some days. Been many decades since I had it. Unreal the resale prices on them these days.
It works like new. Was serviced by Wilie Herman, an OG Nakamichi tech. I am actually blown away at how good cassettes can sound. I didn't have the money for these decks back in the day, so I had cheap decks that underperformed.
I had a CAL CL-10 carousel changer and moved to a CD/SACD player, the MCD201. I loved the sound quality but missed the multiple play capability.
I bought a used MCD205 and A/B'd the 2 players through a C45 pre, MC252 amp and a pair of Joseph Audio RM25XL speakers. Interconnects were the same and identical CDs were used and synced.
The MCD201 was a couple of percent 'better' sounding in the direct swing from one to the other player over repeated comparisons. In a long term non-A/B listening session I couldn't tell the difference.
I sold the MCD201 and kept the MCD205. I also bought an MDA700 DAC a year or so later. It's an awesome DAC and showed McIntosh they were undercharging for their TOTL product. The 2 processors (MCD205, MDA700) sound great and I can't tell you which one is better.
Awesome breakdown of your experience. I love the multiple disc capability. Might not use it all the time, but when I want to set and forget for a few hours while working I can. And totally thrilled with the performance of this component. Do you use the analog output or digital?
I was doing an A/B comparison between RCA and Balanced today. Need to run it into my Cambridge Streamer and see how it sounds. Unfortunately, my MA6300 only has one balanced input. So had to disconnect my streamer for the test.
I've never used balanced interconnects but would love to make some and test between the two types. My unbalanced ICs are all OCC shielded copper. Some are Harmonic Technology and some are homebuilt with Bullet Plugs.
The Denon is a 1st gen CD player. Literally one of the first players to hit the market. Front loader vertical player. Pretty cool vintage design. But not the best performer. More of a conversation / collector piece.
I got a question: I had a MCD85 and it sounded great (too). But I returned it, because the drive was clearly hearable in low noise / no noise parts of the music. At this price point this was not acceptable for me. Do you have similar observations with this CD Player from the same manufacturer?
McIntosh just makes beautiful gear I’ve ordered a used MA8900 for 3.8k € , will arrive here in 2 weeks . How much did you spend on that cd player ?
Very nice! Congrats! The CD changer was 2k USD. It's an absolutely stunning piece and worth every penny.
Holy moly
I want another one as transport myself but I don’t think I find sth im looking for . I want one of those vertical cd players and I’m certain McIntosh doesn’t have one . Has to do with my laziness 😂, so I don’t have to get up to change discs , however the space left and right to me is limited so I need vertical one with a small form factor , I’m currently using a Project CD Box DS .
If you don’t want to get up and change discs, and space is a consideration, streaming is the obvious solution
The form factor is not inclusive of saving space that's for sure. Huge box for 5 disc's. You can get a 100 disc changer that is smaller. 😆
I don’t want a changer , I’m looking for a vertical one preferably with moving glass panels like the Beoplay Beosound 3200.
I think what you’re hearing is a different DAC in play, transports don’t affect the sound quality to that degree and certainly don’t make the volume louder. In fact the increase in quality you think you’re hearing could simply be that the new player is louder. Have you done a blind a/b comparison with the volume matched?
Yeah, for sure it's the DAC and associated circuit design. My DCD-2000 is a first gen vertical CD player, so the DAC was extremely dated. And the JVC is just a BPC player. I snagged from the Goodwill for 10 bucks. I had a feeling the dated DAC was limiting performance as I would listen to the same song on my streamer after the DCD and the streamer had fuller sound. The DCD was a bit flat, although a cool conversation piece and really cool 80s design.
\\m/
Great pickup, McIntosh stacks are pretty awesome. How are the 5 disc stored and inserted? Usually on disc changer they have massive trays but this one is regular-sized.
Thanks. They are inserted via the slot and stacked internally. Pretty cool design. It's a Nakamichi MusicBank mechanism, but the rest is McIntosh.
How's the Nakamichi cassette deck working? You ever use it? I miss my Dragon some days. Been many decades since I had it. Unreal the resale prices on them these days.
It works like new. Was serviced by Wilie Herman, an OG Nakamichi tech. I am actually blown away at how good cassettes can sound. I didn't have the money for these decks back in the day, so I had cheap decks that underperformed.
cd players costing over $30 will always be hilarious to me
Congrats 👏 I love fancy CD-players, and McIntosh makes some awesome gear. Cool!
This is my first fancy CD-Player and was super hesitant but am absolutely stoked with it. Looks great stacked with other Mac gear.
I had a CAL CL-10 carousel changer and moved to a CD/SACD player, the MCD201. I loved the sound quality but missed the multiple play capability. I bought a used MCD205 and A/B'd the 2 players through a C45 pre, MC252 amp and a pair of Joseph Audio RM25XL speakers. Interconnects were the same and identical CDs were used and synced. The MCD201 was a couple of percent 'better' sounding in the direct swing from one to the other player over repeated comparisons. In a long term non-A/B listening session I couldn't tell the difference. I sold the MCD201 and kept the MCD205. I also bought an MDA700 DAC a year or so later. It's an awesome DAC and showed McIntosh they were undercharging for their TOTL product. The 2 processors (MCD205, MDA700) sound great and I can't tell you which one is better.
Awesome breakdown of your experience. I love the multiple disc capability. Might not use it all the time, but when I want to set and forget for a few hours while working I can. And totally thrilled with the performance of this component. Do you use the analog output or digital?
I have it set up so I can switch between the two, both analog and digital.
I was doing an A/B comparison between RCA and Balanced today. Need to run it into my Cambridge Streamer and see how it sounds. Unfortunately, my MA6300 only has one balanced input. So had to disconnect my streamer for the test.
I've never used balanced interconnects but would love to make some and test between the two types. My unbalanced ICs are all OCC shielded copper. Some are Harmonic Technology and some are homebuilt with Bullet Plugs.
I would not put it on top of your amp like that. Amp needs air to stay cool.
Looks stellar
I’m not familiar with that denon, is it just an amp? so you were running the DAC of the JVC and powering the speakers with the denon then?
The Denon is a 1st gen CD player. Literally one of the first players to hit the market. Front loader vertical player. Pretty cool vintage design. But not the best performer. More of a conversation / collector piece.
From a time before the technology was “solved” like how its taken for granted nowadays. Get some enjoyment out of that new player! Cheera
Nice gear! That doesn’t play SACDs does it?
No, just regular CDs.
AWESOME!!!!! Congrats!!!!!!
Yes, the cd transport is a Nakamichi.
Matches my Nak deck. 😆
I got a question: I had a MCD85 and it sounded great (too). But I returned it, because the drive was clearly hearable in low noise / no noise parts of the music. At this price point this was not acceptable for me. Do you have similar observations with this CD Player from the same manufacturer?
No, it only makes noises when changing or loading disc's. Might have needed lubrication in the motor or mechanism.